Service within territorial limits or service that directly supported the UN's military efforts in defense of South Korea between 1950 and 1954.
Description
Obverse: On a bronze medal, 1-1/4 inch in diameter, a Korean gateway, encircled by the inscription "KOREAN SERVICE". Reverse: On the reverse is the Korean "taegeuk" symbol taken from the center of the South Korean national flag with the inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and a spray of oak and laurel encircling the design. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1-3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 1/32 inch White; 19/32 inch Bluebird; center 1/8 inch White; 19/32 inch Bluebird; and 1/32 inch White
The United States Department of Defense declared thirteen official campaigns of the Korean War, all of which are annotated by service stars on the Korean Service Medal. Some campaigns apply to all branches of the US military, while others are branch specific. The Korean Service Medal is authorized a 3/16" bronze or silver (indicates five campaigns) service star to denote participation in any of the following campaigns:
North Korean Aggression (USMC, Navy): June 27 to November 2, 1950
United Nations Defensive (Army, USAF): June 27 to September 15, 1950[4]
Inchon Landing (USMC, Navy): September 13 to 17, 1950
United Nations Offensive (Army, USAF): September 16 to November 2, 1950[4]
Chinese Communist Forces Intervention (Army, USAF): November 3, 1950, to January 24, 1951[4]
Communist China Aggression (USMC, Navy): November 3, 1950, to January 24, 1951
First United Nations Counteroffensive (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): January 25 to April 21, 1951[4]
Chinese Communist Forces Spring Offensive (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): April 22 to July 8, 1951[4]
United Nations Summer-Fall Offensive (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): July 9 to November 27, 1951[4]
Second Korean Winter (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): November 28, 1951, to April 30, 1952[4]
Korean Defense Summer-Fall, 1952 (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): May 1 to November 30, 1952[4]
Third Korean Winter (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): December 1, 1952, to April 30, 1953[4]
Korea, Summer 1953 (USMC, Army, Navy, USAF): May 1 to July 27, 1953[4]
Arrowhead device
An arrowhead device is authorized for US Army or Air Force personnel to denote participation in each of the following:[5]
Although the Korean War Armistice ended combat operations in Korea on 27 July 1953, the Korean Service Medal was issued until June 1954 due to the tense nature of the occupation and garrison duty immediately after the armistice, as well as the high possibility of a renewed attack by North Korea. After 1954, the Korean Service Medal was no longer issued although the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was authorized for Korean area service between October 1, 1966, to June 30, 1974. As of 2004, a new medal known as the Korea Defense Service Medal was authorized for members of the armed forces who served in the defense of the Republic of Korea from July 28, 1954, to a date to be determined.
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